Dishwasher with rotary rack and spray tube



y 1965 w. A. HANIFAN 3,192,935

DISHWASHER WITH ROTARY RACK AND SPRAY TUBE Filed Aug. 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 William A. Han/fan His Attorney y 1965 w. A. HANIFAN 3,192,935

DISHWASHER WITH ROTARY RACK AND SPRAY TUBE Filed Aug. 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

INVENTOR. William A. Han/fan His Al/omey between the front and rear walls of the cabinet.

United States Patent This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to a dishwashing apparatus.

One problem indishwashing apparatus is that in arranging dish racks for holding articles in washing relationship with washing fluid distributing means so that the articles to be cleaned will have all of the surfaces thereon thoroughly washed, it has been necessary to either provide racks that have to be removed from the washing enclosure for loading and unloading or provide carriers for the dish racks that are movable in and out of the washing enclosure. In both cases a user must stoop or assume other uncomfortable positions when loading and unloadv ing articles to and from the'dishwashing apparatus.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve dishwashing apparatus by providing a rotatable dish rack supporting arrangement in a washing enclosure wherein all dish racks are accessible through a top, front opening in the dishwashing apparatus at an optimum work level and wherein the dish rack supporting arrangement is operatively associated with washing fluid distributing means that thoroughly clean all surfaces on articles supported by the dish rack supporting arrangement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved dishwashing apparatus including concentrically arranged dish rack supporting means and washing fluid distributing means defining a compact washing arrangement operable to thoroughly wash all surfaces on articles to be cleaned and wherein all portions of the dish rack arrangement are positionable at an optimum arms reach work level for loading and unloading articles with the work level being located to eliminate the need for a user to stoop, bend or assume other uncomfortable positions while loading and unloading articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dishwashing apparatus having a top, front loading opening therein closed by a folding door arrangement having a portion thereof serving as a cutting board, in a kitchen arrangement located contiguous with the dishwashing apparatus and further including a wheel-like dish rack supporting arrangement rotatably mounted within a washing enclosure and operatively associated with means for selectively indexing the dish rack supporting arrangement with respect to the top, front opening for loading and unloading dishes through the opening without requiring a user to bend, stoop, or otherwise assume an uncomfortable position.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in vertical section of the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a view in vertical section taken along th line 22 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings a 'dishwashing apparatus 1i isillustrated including an outer cabinet 12 having a bulkhead 14 within a lower portion thereof extending The bulkhead 14 also extends between vertically arranged bulkheads 16, 18 adjacent the opposite side walls of the cabinet 12, respectively. The front and rear walls of the cabinet 12, the bulkhead 14 and the vertical bulkheads 16, 1S cooperate to form an upper washing compartment 20 and a lower machinery compartment 22 within the cabinet 12. s

The lower bulkhead 14 is downwardly inclined to form a sump 24 within the washing compartment 20 having a heating element 26 therein for drying articles in the washing compartment 20 and an electrical pressure switch 28 for controlling liquid level therein. The-bulkhead 14 has a central opening 30 therein that receives a tubular fitting 32 having the outer periphery secured to the bulkhead 14. The tubular fitting 32 forms an inlet opening .to a pump 34 driven by suitable means, for example an electric motor 36. Thepump hasan outlet conduit 38 directed therefrom connected'through a two-Way valve mechanism 40 controlled by means of a solenoid actuator mechanism 42 for selectively directing fluid discharged from the pump through a conduit 44 to a drain located exteriorly of the cabinet12'and through a washing'fluid conduit 46 located between one of the sidewalls of the cabinet 12 and the vertically directed bulkhead 16 for supplying fluid to 'dishwashing fluid distributing means 7 located within the washing compartment 20. A water inle'tline 48 adapted to be connected to a suitable water source such as a household water supply system is connected through a solenoid valve 50 to extend upwardly adjacent the washing fluid supply conduit 46. where the terminus 52 of the line 48 is directed throughsthe bulkhead 16 interiorly of the wash-ing compartment 20 for filling the sump 24 with a predeterminedamount of water under the control of valve 50 for carrying'out a desired dishwashing operation under the control of a suitable timer mechanism 54 representatively illustrated'as being mounted on a top panel 56 of the dishwashing apparatus extending across the rear'portion 'of the top of the dishwashing apparatus 10. The timer mechanism 54 is of the type that progresses through a predetermined program to sequentially energize the solenoid actuated valves '40, 50, heating element 26, and electric motor 36 to carry 40 out a predetermined dishwashing operation, for example, an operation of the type set forth in US. Patent 3,064,661 issued November 20, .1962, to Jacobs, including a wash,

a rinse and a drying cycle in the controlling. sequence. The above-described plumbing and control components of the 'dishwashing apparatus are merely one representa- "ticles into the Washing compartment of the apparatus 7 10. More particularly, the cabinet 12 has an opening 58 therein extending across the upper endtof the front wall of the compartment 12 and across the front end of the top of the cabinet 12. This opening is located at an optimum or ideal work level within arms reach of a user when the user is in a comfortable upright I position. The opening is closed by means of a folding door assembly 60 illustrated in FIGURE 1 in solid lines when it is closed and in dotted lines in its open position. The folding door assembly more particularly comprises a first portion 61 for closing the front opening in i one end of a second portion 63 of the assembly 60 'by' latented July 6, 19165 means of a hinge 64 to allow the second portion 63 to fold out in a first horizontal plane when in its closed position .to form .a portion of the top of the cabinet 12 and to fold against portion 61 when in its open position. The opposite end of the second portion 63 supports an elongated seal element 71 for preventing fluid leakage exteriorly of the washing compartment 20 through the break line between the folding door assembly 60 and the top of the outer casing 12. A splash guard 65 at the hinged joint between first portion 61 and the front wall of cabinet 12 prevents leakage exteriorly of compartment 20 along this line.

Within the washing compartment 20 is a rotatable dish rack assembly 66 comprising generally circular end frame portions 67, 68 on either side thereof joined at spaced points on their outer periphery by cross frame members 69. Each of the side frame portions 67, 63 includes a hub portion 70 joined to an outer peripheral ring portion 72 by spokes 74. The spokes 74 on each frame portion are arranged opposite one another and each includes an inwardly directed cylindrical bearing element 75 that pivotally supports an eye portion 77 on the upper edge of either side of article supporting receptacles 7? that may have different configurations and be of different sizes to accommodate various types of articles. The receptacles 79 are thereby carried by the assembly 66 in a circular path about the central axis of the assembly 66 with the receptacles 7? and because ,of the pivoted connection thereof to the framework will remain in an upright position. The hub portion 70 adjacent the vertical bulkhead 18 is secured to a rotatable drive element 78 having a central opening therein for receiving a spindle 89 secured to one of the sides of the outer casing 12 for rotatably supporting the drive element 78 within the outer casing 12. The hub '76 adjacent the bulkhead .16 has a flanged ring element 82 secured thereto rotatably supported on the outer periphery of the terminus of a tubular inlet fitting 84 secured to the outer casing in communication with the washing fluid distributing line 46. The rotatable dish rack assembly 66 is driven by suitable drive means, for example, a suitably geared-down electric motor 86, operatively arranged to actuate a belt pulley system 88 including a pulley element 90 integrally formed on the drive element 78 between the vertical bulkhead l8 and the adjacent side wall of the outer casing 12.

In accordance with other of the principles of the present invention, the inlet fitting 84 communicates with a horizontal spray tube 92 directed concentrically of the dish rack supporting assembly 66 with the spray tube having one end thereof rotatably supported by a flange-d ring element 94- secured to the hub 70 of end frame 68 and the opposite end thereof rotatably journa-lled within the outlet end of the inlet fitting 84. The horizontal spray tube 92 is actuated by directing the fluid from the inlet line 46 through the inlet fitting 84 to impinge against the inner surface of the tube 92 so as to produce resultant forces thereon that effect rotation of the tube. The tube includes 'a plurality of outlet slots 96 therein for directing heavy, continuous streams of spray against articles supported in the dish rack assembly 66 through a rotated pattern relative thereto. The illustrated dishwashing fluid distributing arrangement is of the type set forth more detailedly in US. Patent 2,973,907 issued to Abresch et al. on March 7, 1961, with it being understood that any other suitable fluid distributing system might be arranged concentrically of the illustrated dish rack supporting assembly to obtain the objects of the present invention.

By virtue of the arrangement of the water distributing tube .92 concentrically of the dish rack supporting assembly 66 driven at a first rate of rotation as determined by the water diverting action of the inlet fitting '84 and the independent rotation of the assembly 66 by the motor 86, the articles supported on the receptacles '79 will be exposed to a thorough spray pattern on all surfaces thereof to assure an unusually complete cleaning action within the washing compartment 26. This pattern can be varied as desired by rotating the assembly 66 at a different rate of rotation than the rate of rot-ation of the horizontal spray tube 92. It will be appreciated that the invention in certain of its aspects would contemplate the use of a stationary horizontal distribution spray tube wherein the distribution of spray on the articles supported by the assembly 66 would depend upon the rate of rotation of the assembly 66. In the preferred arrangement, however, the spray tube will rotate as discussed to obtain a more varied spray pattern within the washing compartment 20 during a predetermined dishwashing operation.

Another feature of the invention is that the rotatable dish rack supporting assembly 66 is positionable with respect to the optimum loading and unloading level defined by the access opening in the front and top of the outer cabinet 12 so that each of the article receptacles 79 can be arranged at the access opening for independent loading and unloading. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the assembly 66 is indexed with respect to the opening so that each of the receptacles '79 will be held adjacent the opening for loading and unloading by suitable means representatively illustrated as including a solenoid actuator 93 having a piston ltd-ii directed outwardly thereof with beveled surfaces 162 on the end thereof that are adapted to engage notches 104 in the outer periphery of one of the end frame portions of the assembly 66. The notches 194 are circumferentially spaced on the outer periphery so that each of the receptacles 7 9 will be located adjacent the access opening 58 when the piston of the indexing means engages the assembly 66. In the illustrated representative indexing arrangement, the solenoid actuator 98 is conditioned during a washing operation so that the piston 100 will be retracted where it will not interfere with rotation of the assembly 66. However. during unloading and loading periods, the solenoid will be conditioned to cause the piston portion thereof to move into engagement with the outer periphery of the assembly 62 to hold one of the receptacles 79 in a desired position with respect to the opening depending upon which notch 104 is engaged by piston 1th The piston portion 10-2 may be forced out of a particular notch in the outer periphery when it is desired to position another of the receptacles adjacent the opening by manually rotating the assembly 66 to force the piston out of a particular notch. Gnce another of the receptacles is located adjacent the access opening, the piston 10! will move into another of the notches to index the framework against rotary movement during loading and unloading of dishes into the other of the receptacles.

The above-described improved dishwashing apparatus solves the problem of quickly loading and unloading dishes into a dishwashing apparatus and furthermore includes an unusually good arrangement for distributing dishwashing fluid on all surfaces of articles to be cleaned while being of a simple construction lending itself to economical manufacture and maintenance.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. in a dishwasher the combination of an outer cabinet having an opening in the front, top thereof, door means for closing said front, top opening, a generally cylindrical framework located within said cabinet, means for mounting said cylindrical framework for rotation relative to said housing, said framework having the central axis thereof disposed in a horizontal plane and directed trans versely of said cabinet across the width of said front, top opening therein, article supporting means, means on said cylindrical framework for pivotally securing said article supporting means thereto to prevent tipping of said supporting means during rotation of said cylindrical framework, said cylindrical framework being operable to cate said article supporting means adjacent said top, front opening in said cabinet without being moved exteriorly of said cabinet, means including a spray tube located concentrically of said cylindrical framework for spraying articles on said article supporting means across all portions thereof during rotation of said cylindrical framework, said spray tube having the horizontal axis thereof arranged colinearly of the axis of rotation of said framework, and means for rotating said spray tube at a speed different from the speed of rotation of said cylindrical framework to randomly direct the spray from said spray tube across articles supported by said article supporting means.

2. A dishwasher comprising, means forming a washing compartment, rotatable frame means supported within said Washing compartment for movement relative thereto, said frame means having the axis of rotation thereof disposed in a horizontal plane, dish supporting means pivotally secured to said rotatable frame means, said dish supporting means including means for maintaining dishes thereon in an upright position during rotation of said frame means, washing fluid distributing means located concentrically within said rotatable frame means includ-' ing a rotatable spray tube for directing washing fluid in a random fashion across articles supported on said dish supporting means, and means for rotating said spray tube independently of rotation of said frame means to affect a further random distribution of washing fluid against the surface of articles supported on said dish supporting tion of said frame means, prime mover means, means for drivingly connecting said prime mover means to one of said frame end members for rotating said frame means said spray tube at a speed different from the speed of rotation of said framework to improve distribution of washing fluid discharged by said spray tube against all sides of articles supported by said dish rack means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,289,326 12/18 Walker et al 134-142 X 1,692,190 11/28 Templeton 134-142 X 2,143,239 l/39 F oltz' 312-290 X 2,264,846 12/41 Huebsch 134144 X 2,320,133 5/43 Horwitz 134-179 2,539,112 l/5l Bash 134-142'X 2,734,520 2/56 Abresch et a1. 134-58 X 2,743,982 5/56 Stingl 312-267 2,747,589 5/56 Cicero 134-148 X 2,853,353 9/58 Scholfield et al. 312-267 2,973,907 3/61 Abresch et a1 134-176 X 3,072,452 1/63 Sleeper 312-290'X 3,094,362 6/63 Murray 312-267 FOREIGN PATENTS 583,462 10/24 France. 478,281 1/ 38 Great Britain. 7

CHARLES WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

2. A DISHWASHER COMPRISING, MEANS FORMING A WASHING COMPARTMENT, ROTATABLE FRAME MEANS SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID WASHING COMPARTMENT FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, SAID FRAME MEANS HAVING THE AXIS OR ROTATION THEREOF DISPOSED IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, DISH SUPPORTING MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID ROTATABLY FRAME MEANS, SAID DISH SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR MAINTAINING DISHES THEREON IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION DURING ROTATION OF SAID FRAME MEANS, WASHING FLUID DISTRIBUTING MEANS LOCATED CONCENTRICALLY WITHIN SAID ROTATABLE FRAME MEANS INCLUDING A ROTATABLE SPRAY TUBE FOR DIRECTING WASHING FLUID IN A RANDOM FASHION ACROSS ARTICLES SUPPORTED ON SAID DISH SUPPORTING MEANS, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SPRAY TUBE INDEPENDENTLY OF ROTATION OF SAID FRAME MEANS TO AFFECT A FURTHER RANDOM DISTRIBUTION OF WAHSING FLUID AGAINST THE SURFACE OF ARTICLES SUPPORTED ON SAID DISH SUPPORTING MEANS. 